Radio antenna system



Aug. 28, 1951 s. L lDz 2,565,661

RADIO ANTENNA SYSTEM Filed March 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Shee l 111111111@wirFl ..5 l g /40 SIDNEY LIDZ ma-ma ATTO R N EY S. LIDZ RADIO ANTENNASYSTEM Aug. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1949 INVENTGRSIDNEY LIDZ MH @W L ATTORNEY patented ug. 2K8, 51

Sidney Lidz, New York, N. Y., assignor to Tele- Tone Radio Corporation,a corporation of New York Application March 14, 1949,` Serial No. 81,243

This invention relates `to radio antennas for portable and homereceivers, and more specifically, to television antennas, especiallythose of the dipole type. y

The antennas now existing on the market,for instance, those of thetelescopic type, are expensive and cumbersome. They impede portabilityand are not as easily operative as desirable.

One of the objects of this invention is an antennaior antenna systemwhich in its operative condition takes a minimum of space, and which canbe easily made operative with a high degree of adj ustability todifferent conditions. The novel antenna system is also electricallyextremely effective, While relatively inexpensive in manufacture andassembly. l v

Another object ofthe invention is an antenna system which may be adaptedto any type of re-l ceiver with a minimum of changes or inconvenience,if any, to either antenna or receiver, and which also may have anydesired number of elements, dependent upon the` requirements of thereceiver. f v' A further object of the invention is a home and portablereceiver including such antenna or antenna system, and which initsoperative state, has no protruding or projecting parts, all the an-vtenna members being hidden in the receiver housing, yet consumingtherein a minimum4 of space and being ready at any time forl operation.

Still another object of the invention is a home or portable receiver inwhich the antenna or antenna system in its operating position may bereadily adjustable to any kdesired angle or Wave lengthv of reception,while not impeding a rapid assembly or disassembly. n.

An additional object of the invention is a home or portable receiverwherein `the antenna or antenna. system, in spite of its facility inassembly or disassembly, permits ready coupling with other elements ofthe receiver, such as the tuning unit. Thus length and/or angle orposition of the an-` tenna may be varied simultaneously from a distance,and preferably synchronously, with the operation of the tuning unit. ,is l More specifically, the invention provides an antenna or antennasystem in the form of an elastic iiexible tape or tapes, such as areused as measuring tapes, which, in their` non-operative state, form acoil of the spirall type, and in their operative state, formlongitudinal conductors capable of more or less freely expanding. intospace.

Another specic object of theinvention is to `support'. at least twovsuch yelastic exible tapes tive condition, is preferably completelyhiddenv just below the ytype of the receiver cabinet or housing,and'which in its operative condition, permits the'extension into spaceof the tapes into i a positionprojecting from the receiver; in thisposition, and` in the `case of two tapes, these' tapes are arranged toform an upwardly open angle which has its apex at or nearthe top, aboveor within'the cabinet.. f

A further specific object of the invention is to increase theself-supporting properties of the tape or tapes in their operativecondition, without reducing their power to recoil by themselves, bydimensioninga cross-section of such tape with a certain width` andcurvature which cooperates with a desired length or lengths and theinherent strength and elasticity, so `as to permit self-'support inspace for a suiiicient maximum length of say, 40 inches. Still anotherobject of the invention is the selection of the proper material for thetape, which may bemade of steel or plastic, just as a measuring tapelismade of such material, and may be m'ade Vconductive by spraying orplating, or may be' entirely made of suitable elastic flexible andconductive material 'such as Phosphor bronze.

"However, the invention is not limited to any type of material ordimension, because all these factors 'are' believed to be within theexpert knowledge of'the engineer, once the principles set forth in thisinvention are properly understood and practically applied. These andother objects of the invention will be morefully understood from theaccompanying drawings, ya description of which now follows.

vFig'. 1 shows schematically a television receiverincorporating,anantenna system of the dipole type, accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2v shows similarly schematically therantenna unit in Fig. 1 formingan independent part of the receiverfwhich may be raised or lowered overand below thetop of the cabinet, as desired, to permititsl placementinto operativeor nonoperative position respectively, and simultaneouslyalso, to facilitate angle adjustments when in operative position. 4 n

Figs. 3A, 3B show side and top Views respectively, the latter insection, of a lifting mechanism such as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section through the re, ceiver and. the antennaunit. The arrangement of the unit `represents a modiiication of Fig. l2and permits,l angle adjustment ofthe antenna system without thenecessity of raising and lowering the unit.

Fig. 4 also illustrates an example of a relative arrangement of twocoils in which the antenna tapes are wound back when transport orinactivity is desired.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative relative arrangement of a` pair of coils.

Fig. 6 represents a modification of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 illustrates a circuit diagram for connecting an antenna systemaccording to the invention, with the receiver proper.

Fig. 8 represents an alternative circuitdiagram.

Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B show respectively a single coil antenna and itsattachment to a coil housing or a shaft supported therein.

Fig. 10 illustrates a coil having-an inner coil shaft coupled to a knob.This permits adjustment of the length of the antenna from the outside orany other point of the receiver, corresponding to different wave lengthsor channels associated with the different antenna lengths.

Fig. 11 illustrates the gear mechanism coupling the shaft of an antennacoil to the shaft of a tuning unit of the continuous tuning type, topermit simultaneously with the tuning operation, the adjustment of thecoil antenna for an appropriate wave length.

Fig. 12 indicates'a coil assembly mounted for rotation inside thecabinet, but operative from the outside thereof.

Fig. 13 shows a portable television receiver with a coil assemblymounted thereon in a predetermined position of the cabinet.

Fig. 14 gives a cross-section through an antenna tape having a plasticcore spread witha conductive powder.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modification of Fig. 12. There is a coil housingsupported on the top surface of the receiver slightly below thereof, andoperative from above.

In Fig. 1, l represents a receiver cabinet, 2 is a coil unit arrangedflush with the top of the cabinet I, and supported within cabinet I withtapes 3 and 4 extending therefromthroughslots 5 and 6. Slots`5 and 6must be largeenough to permit, in addition, tapes/3 and 4 to supportthemselves freely at different lengths, which in turn causes theoccurrence of'different opening angles 1. Although it is desirable andunder certain conditions preferable that theantennas should extendfreely into space, it is not indispensable for the purpose of theinvention. It is possible to arrange support pointsat various'lengthslof the antenna tapes when extended, without departing from the spiritofrlthis'invention.

In non-operating condition, only the bent-out end portions 8, 9 ofantenna'tapes 3, 4 are visible from the top of cabinet Slots 5, 6 may becovered by sliding plates I0. This is toprevent dust from collectinginto lthe 'cabinet without impeding mobility of the antenna` tapes 3, 4to assume any desired length or opening angle.

Tapes 3,` 4 are ordinary steel tapes'of about 5/8" width, of the typeused in measuring tapes. Such tapes may also'be used with theircustomary housings, also made'of steel orgplasticgif necessary, whichare not shown Yin Fig.v 1.

Tapes 3, 4A are made conductive by an appropriate metal spray or platingwell-known in the art, and therefore neither illustratednor described inthe drawings.

' Fig. 2 representsan elaboration or modification of Fig. 1, in thatacoil-unit I4 israrranged to be lifted out ofcabinet I5, to permit thetapes I6, to be adjusted to any desired direction, in accordance withthe angle of reception provided for a particular station or channel.

Such a lifting mechanism is schematically illustrated in Figs. 3A and 3Bin elevation and section respectively. 'There the unit I5 is supportedon a D-shaped shaft I8, provided along its fiat portion with a series ofsemi-globular recesses I9. A bracket attached to a vertical wall 2| ofthe receiver is provided with an opening 22 for receiving a anged sleeve23 rotatably fitting therein.

Sleeve 23 has a central opening 24 adapted to receive D-shaft |8. Sleeve23 is also provided lwith a cross-opening 25 adapted to receive in theorder mentioned steel ball 26, coil spring 2`| and closing screw 28. Inthis way,

ball' 26 may be held by the spring pressed against the iiat portion ofD-shaft I8 ready to fall into one of the recesses I9, thereby fixing thelongitudinal position of D-shaft I8, and thereby the vertical positionof unit |5. This will occur as soon as coil unit |5,together with shaftI8 are lifted above the top surface of the receiver cabinet to a desiredheight.

In this elevated and longitudinally fixed position of shaft I8, thelatter, together with coil unit I5, remains still Vrotatable togetherwith sleeve 23 and in opening 22 of bracket 20.

Thus, the directional position of the tape antennas when in operativecondition, 4may be adjusted to any desired angle of reception.

Fig. 4 exemplifies the manner in which the coils of a pair of antennatapes 29, 3E] are arranged inside a supporting box 3|. The housings 32,33 for the coils are attached to opposite side walls of box 3| in amanner not-shown and irrelevant for the present explanation. Thecoils'are arranged in yparallel planes but sideways` displaced withrespect to eachother so asv-to permit tapes 29, 3U to cross withouttouching each other.

Otherwise, Fig. 4 represents a modification of Figs. 1 and 2 in that thetop-wall 34 of box 3| is not square shaped but roundtting into acorresponding round opening which is recessed at the edgeV as shown inthe drawing, in top wallv 35 of receiver. Inthis way, box 3| and theassociated antenna tapesl 29, 30, maybe rotated at anydesired angle -ofreception, for example, by turning linob 36v attachedtoy the top wall 34of box 3|. Such rotation may be achieved without involving any liftingof box-3|.

yFig. 5 schematically"illustrates'a modication of the coil arrangementof Fig. 4. Thev coils yor coil housings 31,38 are mounted, insulatedfrom each other by -an insulating ydiscSS with which they form togethera singleunit Vflatly arranged side byside in parallel planes.

Housings3'|,^38 are vof conducting metal and the inner ends of theantenna tapesY are attached to housings 31,38 or to-shafts 40, V4|mounted in the vhousings so as to `have electrical contact therewith.

In this way, electrical connection between the receiver-proper andtheantenna unit may be achieved independently'from' the assembly of unitparts 31, as and 3s.

In Fig. 6 a Apair of coil housings42, 43 are mounted in electricalcontact with each other for a circuit where it is'desired to have theinner ends of the tapes permanently interconnected.

Fig. 'l shows a circuit diagram in which the innerends of tape antennas'44,* 45A are insulated from each other and also connected to theterminals of the primary 46 of a transformer 4l. The secondary 48 oftransformer 41, at one terminal thereof, at 49, is grounded, and attheother terminal thereof, at 50, is connected to the inner conductor 5| ofa transmission line, the outer conductor 52 of which is also grounded.

Fig. 8 represents another circuit diagram in which the inner ends of apair of antenna tapes 53, 54 are electrically interconnected at 55, andalso grounded.

Antenna 54 at a distance from point 55 of about one-third of its length,is connected at point 56, to the inner conductor 51 of a transmissionline. The outer conductor 58 in this line is grounded.

Figs. 9A and 9B illustrate a coil housing 59 made of metal or plasticwith the inner end 60 of tape 6| connected at 62 to a flat spring 63which in turn is attached to shaft 64 mounted in housing 59.

If necessary, spring 63 may be omitted and the end 60 of tape 6|directly attached to shaft 64 in housing 59. Then only the springinessinherent in the tape is used to effect or faciiltate automatic recoil oftape 6|.

Tape 6| may be printed or engraved appropriately to indicate wavelength, station, channel or any other reference to the function of theantenna at a predetermined length.

Also, if necessary, housing and tape may be provided with any othershape, dimensions, construction or material without exceeding the scopeof this invention.

Fig. 10 shows a coil housing 65 coupled over shaft 66 and transmissiongears 61, 68, to a turning knob 69. This is to permit adjustment of theantenna length by turning a knob 0r a similar member which may beattached outside of the receiver or at any other point distant from thecoil. A corresponding stationary scale may be provided cooperating withknob 69 to indicate the position of the knob or length of the antennatape, extending from housing 65, or corresponding channel or station, orany other identication marks.

Any type of transmission may be inserted between shaft 66 and knob 69,without exceeding the scope of this invention.

It is apparent that not only one coil but two or more coils may beattached to the gear or any transmission mechanism to permitsimultaneous and equal tape extension within the framework of thisinvention.

Fig. 11 indicates schematically the shafts 10, 1| of two antenna tapecoils (not shown) Shaft 12 carrying knob 13 is coupled to shafts 10, 1|over gears 14, 15, 16, 11; thus knob 13 will turn the coils attached to10, 1| in opposite directions, thus permitting through gears 14-11simultaneous and equal extension into space of the tapes associated withthe two coils (not shown). Gear 11 is also coupled over an additionalgear 18 to shaft 19 of a tuner unit or to any other shaft coupled withsuch tuner unit.

'I'hus it becomes possible from knob 13 to control not only the lengthof the two coil tapes, but also the tuning position of the receiver.

By appropriate dimensioning of gears 14--18 or any other suitabletransmission mechanism of the linear and non-linear type, the length ofthe antenna tapes may be brought substantially to correspond with thetuning position required for such antenna length, thus permittingsynchronism between tuning positions and antenna length adjustments.

Fig. 12 shows a pair of square-shaped coil housings 80, 80 attached toopposite sides of a comceiver and held in place by a ring plate 81attached vto the inside of top wall 86. There is also a flangedextension 88 on the bottom side of plate 8| which feeds into acorresponding opening of bracket 89 attached to side wall 90 of thereceiver. This extension 88 permits guidance of unit 19, 80, 9|, whileit is rotated by knob 83.

YTapes 9|, 92 when in operative position extend through appropriatelydimensioned radial slots in disc 85, which permits simultaneous rotationof the two tapes without lifting the unit.

In non-operative position, the coil unit is practically flush with orcovered by the top surface 86 of the receiver.

Figure 13 shows portable or home receiver 93 with the coil schematicallyindicated at disc 94 with knob 95 projecting therefrom. In thearrangement shown, the unit is arranged in the left back corner of thetop surface 94 of receiver 93. In this arrangement it has been foundadvisable for minimum space requirements and ready portability toarrange television tube 96 j,immediately above the tuning unit 91indicated by dotted lines. Loudspeaker 98 is arranged on o1' near one ofthe inclined side walls, preferably side wall 99, and preferably theright one, as shown, which give the receiver a pyramidal shape.

Fig. 14 shows schematically a tape in cross-sections with a plastic,preferably Bakelite base |00, sprayed or plated with conductive powder0|. The curvature of the tape serves to enhance its self-supportingproperties. Instead of or in addition to curvature, a central rib or agroove may be provided to increase such support.

Instead of the arrangement shown, metal may be incorporated inside theplastic tape in the form of metal strip or metallised paper, withoutexceeding the scope of this invention.

Fig. 15 s'hows a modification of Fig. 12 in that the holding plate |03of the coil unit (80 in Fig. 12) is shown upheld only by deck plate |04.There is no rotational mounting inside the receiver.

A number of screws |05V are provided circumferentially arranged on thebottom side of disc |04 and provided with sleeves |05, which form guidescooperating with the inner edge of the ring plate |06 attached to theinside of top wall |01.

Thus the entire unit may be suspended on a single disc shaped plate |04without additional guidance except a sliding action between sleeves |05bracket and ring plate |06. Thus construction and assembly of the coilunit may be simplifled for certain conditions.

It is of course possible to design any sort and type of coil unit andunit support in accordance with the invention and for the purpose of itsapplication, without exceeding the scope of this invention.

For example, instead of linearly extending into space, the tape may bein the form of a loop, which is either open in the form of an inverted Uor closed, starting from one point near the top of the cabinet andreturning to a point near that starting point. There also may be twoloops of this type extending `in :opposite ,directions form-ing;adjacent yinverted 4U s fora cluster-:like loop structure. fAll thesemodifications; arewithin the scope of this invention.

Another example ,of `modifying the ,invention as described andillustrated, consists in `providing a curvature in the tape whichisopposite to ythe curvature shown in Fig.,9A. ,IngFig. '9A at :|08,tape BI is shown to' be curved concavely with respect to the centre G4of coil housingjES. While this is the usual way of curving tapesavailable on the market, such arrangement `hasjthe disadvantage that thetape or tapes as shown, for example, Yin Figs. 4 and 5 emerge from theirassociated coils at thebottom of the coil housing.

In a modication of the curvature as shown in Fig. 9A, in dotted lines at|99, tape 6| is curved convexlywith respect to the centre 64 of coilhousing 59. This'makes itpossible, as shown in Fig. 12, to provide tapesemerging from the `tops of thefassociated housings and to arrangethesehousings 80, 80 (prime) co-axially-With a minimum of space requirements,while at the Ysame time providing free extensioninto space over asucient length.

In the case of convex'curvatures it has been particularly Vadvisable toprovide -an additional spring as shown in Fig. 9B, at 63, to facilitatethe re-winding of the coil tape.

What I claim is:

1. In a television apparatus, a cabinet and an antenna system supportedby said cabinet, said system comprising a pair of conductors each hav- 8rotatableonsaidcabinet to permit rotation of the conductors `independentfrom the Alongitudinal positiomof said conductors.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coils aire supported as aunit arranged before operation .below the` surface of the cabinet, anopening being provided in said surface and means raising the unit foroperation above the surface through said opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the coils are supported as aunit substantially below thesurface ofthe cabinet, the top of said unitbeing flush with the top of the cabinet,.and having ,openings permittingthe conductors to eX- tend therethrough, saidunit being supportedrotatable onsaidcabinet to permit rotation of the conductors independentfrom the longitudinal position of the conductors, said conductors beingrotatable from theoutside of the cabinet.

4. Television Aapparatus according to claim. 1 wherein the twoconductors are attached to axes which are mechanically coupled to eachother and wherein there is a tuner mechanically coupled to said Yaxes soas to permit length of antenna'and tuning position to be coordinated.

SIDNEY LIDZ.

REFERENCES VCITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,626,803 .Fishback May 3, 19271,666,480 Zillger Apr. 17, 1928 2,157,278 Blackmore May 9, 19392,180,398 Chapman Nov. 21, 1939 .2,207,084 Bowers July 9, 1940 2,259,628Fener Oct. 21, 1941 2,276,935 `Como Mar. 17, 194 2,283,524 White May 19,1942 2,321,556 .Raskhodo June 8, 1943 2,521,798 Leonard Sept. 12, 1950

